4 minute read
2022 FDA President Dr. Jerry Bird
Dr. Bird was born in Chicago, IL while his dad was going to chiropractic school. The Bird family migrated in the early years to Holland, Mich. and Platte, S.D. The family eventually settled in Marne, Mich. to be close to relatives. Dr. Bird is the eldest and has a sister, Carol, in Michigan, a brother, Keith, in Georgia and his youngest sister, Teresa, in North Carolina.
While in 6th grade, Dr. Bird knew he wanted to be a dentist. Once in dental school, he fell in love with oral surgery. Dr. and Mrs. Bird married in 1984, and moved from Michigan to Florida in 1985, where they built a thriving oral surgery practice. They have two children, Kevin (34), a surgical nurse who lives in Naperville, IL with his wife, Taylor, and their son Carter. Stephanie (32) works at Lockheed and lives in Denver with her soon-to-be fiancé, Anthony.
The Bird family is a sports family. Running, soccer, basketball, cycling and triathlons were all part of busy weekends. The kids went to many dental meetings with mom and dad and, probably like your kids, they began to think the meeting hotel was THEIR hotel. In his spare time, Dr. Bird was an assistant varsity men’s soccer coach at Holy Trinity Academy in Melbourne for several years and still attends games.
Dr. Bird has been involved in the Brevard County Dental Society, Central District Dental Society, the Florida Dental Association 1.
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Photos:
1. Dr. and Mrs. Bird in D.C. at Dentist and Student Lobby Day.
2. Dr. Bird with grandson Carter.
3. Mrs. Bird, Florida State Representative Tyler Sirois and Dr. Bird.
4. Drs. Matt Sheldon, Jerry Bird and Jim Antoon.
5. Dr. Bird sporting his Michigan gear.
6. Dr. Bird, Mrs. Bird and their surgical assistants (l to r) Shelley, Ashley and Ellery
7. Dr. Bryan Bergens, Past Central Florida Distrist Dental Association (CFDDA) President, Marlinda Fulton, executive director for the CFDDA, and Dr. Bird celebrate 100 years of association excellence!
8. At Ironman Alaska this summer - Dr. and Mrs. Bird with their daughter, Stephanie, after she finished Ironman Alaska, and her beau, Anthony.
9. Kevin (son), Carter (grandson), Taylor (daughter-in-love). 1.
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(FDA) and American Dental Association (ADA) since 1985. He has always thought it was important to give back to the profession to make it better for those who will come after him. His most loved arena is legislative, and his favorite job has been chair of ADPAC. He had a great legislative mentor, Dr. Robert Downey, who taught him much of what he knows. In their early office years, a team member’s dad who was their friend, realtor and part-time babysitter became a congressman. The rest is history.
Dr. and Mrs. Bird have been vegetarians since 1983, and they love Mexican food. They also love Michigan football and Tom Brady. His favorite guilty pleasure is a Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream. Anything chocolate is #1. Although Jerry is not a fan of candy, many of his Board of Trustee friends like to share their chocolate buckeyes with him at meetings. Hmmm? But he really loves his University of Michigan Wolverines. Dr. Bird loves to dance. 70’s and 80’s songs are favorites. He needs a new hip from the cycling accident, but once he gets the new total hip in December, watch out ... he will be back on the dance floor!
Dr. Bird loves his family, his profession, dogs, babies, all of his patients and many friends. His favorite drink of choice is water, and it is with him everywhere he goes. His favorite movie is “Shawshank Redemption,” which he has watched at least 10 times and lives the “Get busy living or get busy dying” quote every day. His goal for the FDA is to be a unified force for the dental profession. The FDA already is the “Go To” place for all things dental. During the COVID-10 pandemic, the FDA was a leader in getting the latest information. Whether providing the safest conditions for patients and teams, helping dentists secure Paycheck Protection Program loans, and grants, the FDA had us covered. Now it is hurricane season, and the FDA is checking on us and making sure we are ready. The FDA is an amazing organization!
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